Email
Print
Driving school offers valuable tips to teens
Photo courtesy of B.R.A.K.E.S.
An emotional Doug Herbert speaks with participants about his sons, Jon and James, and why he doesn't want other parents to have to experience the same tragedy he has.
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: October 8, 2008
How safely can a teenager drive when text messaging his friends? Would a 17-year-old know how to handle her car if she suddenly hydroplaned on the highway?
Hoping to better educate teens about the many driving dangers they regularly face, a Teen Proactive Driving School in Concord held its first session Saturday for invited guests, the media and teens from Big Brothers/Big Sisters with the program opening to the public on Nov. 8.
Following the highway death of his two sons in January, NHRA drag racer Doug Herbert founded the charity organization B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Sake) to "help teach teenagers how to be safer on the roads."
"We've gotten a lot of exposure for the charity and we've raised a lot of money, but now we're ready to give something back," added Herbert, a Lake Norman-area resident.
The "defensive driving program" welcomes parents/guardians and their teenage children to experience potential dangers that may arise when operating a vehicle.
"I think the teens that go through the school will definitely be safer drivers because of it, and I really believe that this program has the potential to help save some teenagers' lives," said Herbert.
Saturday's event was attended by approximately 50 people, including several state officials, such as Rep. Karen Ray of Mooresville and Darrel Jernigan of the North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program.
"We lose far too many teenagers on our highways each year, not just in North Carolina, but nationwide," said Jernigan. "Anytime that you can put a teenager behind the wheel and give them hands-on experience of corrective driving and defensive driving it will help them in their everyday driving."
Ray agreed.
"The actual hands-on experience is always the best experience and I know several adults who have lost their children to car accidents just as Doug Herbert as," she said. "Nothing is better than hands-on and that's what this program is all about."
Held in conjunction with the Mario Andretti and Jeff Gordon Racing School, the program will hold two public sessions Nov. 8 – which are open for registration at $99 per person – before being taken nationwide to tracks across the United States.
The four-hour session, which is designed as a joint parent/child effort for 50 teenagers, will include a short instruction portion as well as hands-on driving opportunities that will introduce teens to three different courses with three driving challenges – a wet skid pad, a brake and turn exercise and a distraction course, notes the release.
"It's more letting the students get into the middle of the dangerous situation and then teaching them how to get out of it," said Sara Fensterer of Doug Herbert Public Relations and MCG Sports. "It's really things that you can only learn how to handle when you're going through it."
With a trained instructor from Andretti-Gordon present in the vehicle, the teens will have multiple chances to complete each course, learning how to control their vehicle in a variety of situations, such as when the anti-locking braking system becomes engaged or the car begins to skid down a roadway.
The distraction course – which differs from the others – will address many of the distractions present both inside and outside of a vehicle that could cause an accident, such as cell phone use.
"It's all structured around making sure (teenagers) are with their parent and working with their parent to be safe drivers," said Fensterer.
Kelsey Woodford, who attended Saturday's event with her mother – Jennifer Woodford from Motorsports Industry News – compared the defensive-driving course to a teenager's typical introduction to the skill.
"In driver's (education) they teach the basics of how to drive a car. Here, you learn what to do in certain situations."
Her mother commented that the courses helped her daughter gain the necessary confidence for handling a dangerous situation.
"…It's hard to watch her drive away every single time, even to school, it doesn't matter, but to know she's got a little extra preparation is healthy for both of us."
On Nov. 8, two sessions will be held for interested individuals, at 8 a.m. and noon. Teenage participants must be 15 years of age or older, have a valid driver's license or learner's permit and must be accompanied by a legal guardian or parent. The cost is $99 per person, or $198 for a parent and child.
For more information or to register, visit www.putonthebrakes.com.
Registration is also available through Heather Lutz with the Mario Andretti and Jeff Gordon Racing Schools. She can be contacted at 704-886-2405 or hlutz@andrettigordon.com.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
